Apparatus for seeding cherries.



Nb, 743,860. PATENTED Nov. 10, 1903.

J. GOODSPEED.

APPARATUS FOR SEBDING CHERRIES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 25, 1903. v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

N0 MODEL.

No 743,860. PATENTED NOV. 10, 19.03.

' J. GOODSPBED.

APPARATUS FOR SEEDING CHERRIES.

APPLICATION F ILED MAR. 25. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2- NOMODBL.

/i /J /J 1 9/0 UNITED STATES PATENT i atented ovembe'r 10, 1963.

price.

.APPARATUS FOR SEED ING CHERRIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,860, dated November10, 1903.

Application filed March 1903. Serial No. 149,536. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Goonsrnnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Brookpark, in the county of Pine and State ofMinnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forSeedingQherries, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvemen ts in apparatus forseeding cherries; and its object is to provide a device of simpleconstruction by means of which cherries may be automatically fed one ata time to mechanism which is so constructed as to carry the pulp,subsequent to the extraction of the seed, upward to a point above adischargetrough into which the pulp is automatically discharged.

A further object of the invention is to provide seeding-fingers of novelconstruction adapted to be operated successively, thereby reducing tothe minimum the power required to operate the device.

Another object is to employ novel mechanism for feeding cherries one ata time to the fingers.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists inproviding a hopper within which is arranged a cylinder having a spiralgroove in the surface thereof which is divided into a series of similarcompartments each of which is of sufficient size to accommodate acherry. Cups equal in number to the compartments in the cylinder arearranged adjacent thereto, and each is adapted to receive a cherry fromits corresponding compartment. A series of curved fingers are pivotallymounted adjacent to the cup and are operated successively by a series ofeccentrics mounted upon an operating-shaft. These fingers are broughtsuccessively into position within the cups and first press the seedsfrom the cherries into outlets formed in the bottom of the cup and thenengage the pulp and carry it upward to releasing-arms which serve toforce the pulp from the fingers and deposit it within adischarge-trough.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,showing the preferred formof my invention, and in which- Fignre l is a side elevation of thedevice. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a planview. Fig. at is an end elevation, and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionthrough the front portion of the hopper and through the cups adjacentthereto.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a frame of anysuitable form, having a hopper 2 thereon at one'end, and preferablydivided into two compartments by means of a partition 3. Within thebottom of this hopper is arranged a rotary cylinder 4, having a spiralgroove 5 formed therein and divided into a series of compartments 6 bymeans of partitions 7. Each of these compartments is of sufficient sizeto receive a single cherry. The shaft 8 of cylinder 4 is provided at oneend with a pulley 9.

Extending partly under the inner face of cylinder at is a strip 9,having a series of apertures 10 therein equal in number to thecompartments 6. Partitions 11 are arranged between apertures 10 and inalinement with the partitions 7 in groove 5. The apertures 10 are ofsuch size as to permit a cherry-seed of ordinary size to passtherethrough; but said aperture is smaller than an ordinary cherry. Aninclined board 12 is arranged within the frame 1 at a point below strip9 and is adapted to direct outward any seeds which may be depositedthereon.

Within-the opposite end of frame 1 is'journaled a shaft 13, upon whichis arranged a series of eccentrics 14:, each of which is in closed by aring 15', having a forwardly-extending arm 16. Each arm is pivoted to ablock 17, adjustably mounted upon the screwthreaded end 18 of a rod 19.Thisrod is clamped between blocks 20,Which are secured together by ascrew 21 or any other suitable means, and all of the blocks20 areloosely mounted upon ashaft 22, which extends transversely of frame 1.Rods 19 are curved forward to form fingers 23, the ends of which areforked, as shown at 24, and these fingers are of such size that whenthrown forward the ends thereof will be brought into position directlyabove their respective apertures 10. It will of course be understoodthat the fingers 23 are equal in number to the apertures 10. Theeccentrics 14 are so mounted upon the shaft 14 that the fingers will bebrought successively into position above the apertures 10. A pulley 25is arranged at one end of shaft 13 and is adapted to transmit motion topulley 9 through a belt 26, preferably crossed, as shown at Fig. 1.Shaft 13 may be revolved by means of a crank 27 or in any other suitablemanner. A cross-strip 28 extends transversely of the frame at a pointabove fingers 23 and has depending arms 29 connected therewith andprojecting between the paths of the fingers. An inclined trough 30 issocured within the frame at a point under the strips 29, and the outletthereof is arranged at a point to one side of the frame.

In operation cherries are placed within hopper 2, and shaft 13 is thenrevolved by means of crank 27. This will impart rotary motion tocylinder 4, and the cherries will be seated one at a time within thecompartments 6 and conveyed to a point above the aperture 10, adjacentto the compartment within which it is located. Immediately subsequent tothe discharge of the cherry above aperture 10 the finger 23 in the pathof which the cherry is located will be brought into contact with saidcherry and force the seed downward through aperture 10 and upon theinclined board 12. The finger will then be promptly retracted, and theforked end 24 thereof will engage the pulp and carry it upward intocontact with the strips 29. These strips will scrape the pulp from thefinger and deposit it upon trough 30, which will guide it to the outsideof the machine. It will be understood that the cherries are fed intoposition above the apertures 10 separately, and the fingers 23 arrivesuccessively into position thereabove. It is therefore obvious that butone cherry is operated upon at a time, and therefore the power requiredto work the machine is reduced to a minimum. In order to regulate thepassag of the cherries from the hop per to their positions aboveapertures 10, I preferably provide a slide 31 within the front of thehopper, said slide being adapted to be held in adjusted position bymeans of a spring 32. By means of this slide the passage or outlet fromthe hopper may be regulated to accommodate cherries of different sizes.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve theright to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a hopper, and astrip adjacent thereto having a series of apertures; of a cylinderrevolubly mounted within the hopper, a spiral groove within thecylinder, partitions within said groove forming coinpartments,wherebyarticles may be conducted successively to points above the apertures inthe strip.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with ahopper, and a strip adjacent thereto having a series of apertures; of acylinder revolubly mounted within the hopper and having a spiral groovetherein, partitions within the groove forming compartments,wherebyarticles may be deposited successively at points above the apertures,

and means acting conjointly with the cylinder for regulating thedischarge of articles from the hopper.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with ahopper; of a strip adjacent thereto and having apertures, partitionsinterposed between the apertures, a cylinder revolubly mounted withinthe hopper and having a spiral groove therein, and partitions within thegroove and in alinement with the first-mentioned partitions, wherebyarticles may be deposited successively at points above the apertures.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a framehaving a revoluble shaft therein; of a stationary shaft, fingers mountedupon the stationaryshaft, forks at the ends of the fingers, meansconnecting the fingers and the rotary shafts, whereby the same areadapted to be successively operated, and strips having a series ofapertures therein in the paths of the fingers, means for feedingarticles successively to points above the apertures, a trough, anddepending strips above the trough and between the paths of the fingers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GOODSPEED.

\Vitnesses:

F. A. KALLAM, S. P. MARLETTE.

